Staal’s goal at 12:47 of the first period came off a rebound when Vardlamov was unable to retreat into position after saving center Nathan Gerbe’s shot.

The Hurricanes went up 2-0 when they caught the Avalanche offguard in transition. Gerbe collected the puck and fed Dwyer, who was skating toward the net and converted for his first goal of the season just 26 seconds into the second period.

The Avalanche notched 15 of the last 17 shots of the second period.

Dwyer’s only previous point this season came with an assist in the third game of the season at Pittsburgh.

Carolina’s second-period goal was the second-fastest it has scored in a period this season. The fastest came Oct. 25 at Colorado with a tally 12 seconds into the middle period.

Hurricanes right wing Radek Dvorak left with a lower-body injury early in the third period and didn’t return.